Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use this software piracy reporting form to report an organization that is not a corporation?

Yes. The form can be used to report organizations of any kind. The form should be used to report the use of pirated software within a company, a school, a trade association, or any other kind of organization.

What does SIIA do with the report I provide?

We will review the report and promptly follow up with a questionnaire asking you some additional questions that are important to our investigation. Once we collect all the information we need, we review the report for accuracy, reliability, completeness, and timeliness. Our approach is very conservative -- we will only pursue a case where we feel very confident that we have reliable and extensive information that the target organization is pirating software. Once we decide to pursue a case, SIIA's counsel contacts the president or other high-ranking officer at the company to request that the company conduct a voluntarily software audit. The company provides SIIA with a copy of the audit results that show the names and number of software programs loaded onto its workstations. The company will also provide SIIA with documentation to try and prove that it has sufficient licenses for the software. If unauthorized software is found SIIA will attempt to negotiate a settlement with the company based on the illegal software found through the audit. If no unauthorized software is found in this audit process, the case is closed. If the company refuses to conduct an audit, SIIA may sue the company for copyright infringement on behalf of its members. This entire process may take as long as 18 months.

If I report software piracy to SIIA, will you tell my employer?

No. SIIA has a long-standing policy of protecting the confidentiality of those who report to us. We will not reveal the name, or any identifying information, about the reporting source unless we are required to by a law enforcement authority or court. We have never had to reveal the identity of a source that wishes to be anonymous. Therefore, at a minimum we strongly encourage you to give us your email address and contact information in case a question comes up during the course of our investigation.

How can I get a reward for reporting software piracy?

First, make sure you provide us with an email address when you complete the software piracy report. Also, when we send you a follow up questionnaire please complete the questionnaire and send it back to us and soon as possible so we can begin investigating the case. To determine whether you are eligible for a report we urge you to review the eligibility requirements, which can be found at http://www.siia.net/piracy/report/tos.asp.

How much money can I get through SIIA's reward program for reporting software piracy?

If you are eligible for a reward, the dollar amount of the reward will vary depending on how much the case is settled for, but will be consistent with the guidelines below.

Settlement Amount

Potential Reward Amount

$10,000-$100,000

up to $5,000

$100,001-$500,000

$10,000

$500,001-$1 million

$50,000

$1,000,001-$2 million

$100,000

$2,000,001-$5 million

$250,000

$5,000,001-$10 million

$500,000

$10,000,001-$20 million

$750,000

Over $20 million

$1,000,000

Please note that SIIA's Reward Program only applies to cases of software piracy taking place within an organization, and not to Internet piracy..

How long does it take SIIA to investigate a company that has been reported?

The length of an investigation could vary greatly depending upon the individual circumstances of the case and the level of cooperation from the company we are investigating. Generally, cases may be pending for nine months to as long as two years.

Can I get a status report on how the case is progressing?

To get an update simply call our anti-piracy hotline at (800) 388-7478 or email us at piracy@siia.net. If you have previously made a report to SIIA and become aware of any additional information in the case that might be helpful you should contact us immediately with the new information.

I want to report piracy of content, like books, magazines and newspaper articles. How do I do that?